International Reps Presence Vital For Grassroots Growth

Fiji Football Association technical director and OFC Just Play Grassroots Football Development instructor Ravinesh Kumar believes that the presence of former Vodafone Fijian national U20 players and Olympic players would be vital in the pilot project for the grassroots development programme.

Kumar said players like FIFA Under 20 World Cup rep SaulaWaqa who is one of the participants with Fiji FA development officers and Just Play volunteers attending the week long OFC Just Play Grassroots Development Course in Suva is a testament of this.

“He (Waqa) is one of the stars who went to the FIFA U20 World Cup and he scored a goal and he was also part of the Olympic team and is a good player and I have seen myself that these young players are good role models for grassroots players,” Kumar said.

“I have seen that during one of the school’s visit with the Just Play team and he was the center of attraction and we need the national team players, players with names to be part of this programme so we can create awareness and promote football at the same time.”

Kumar said there was a plan underway to involve more former players in the grassroots development programme.

“Yes as you can see, Saula is one them and we will definitely use more players from the national teams in the grassroots development.”

He said they wanted these players to become ambassadors of this project.

“I am also targeting some of the players who are currently playing or have finished their playing career and will bring them in in this project,” Kumar said.

He said the week-long OFC Just Play Grassroots Development course would see the merge of Just Play and Fiji FA Development programme.

“We will get more human resources to work for our development centres which is very good and on the other hand we training our volunteers and staff to know how to take training at the development centre.

Kumar said they would go back and enhance our development centres in the districts.

‘This is the first part and the second part for the technical department is to have a pilot project in the similar fashion going from district to district.”

He said Just Play volunteers and Fiji FA Development officers were taking part in the course which ends tomorrow.